How bonus and preference points work

Bonus points

Utah’s bonus point system has been put in place to increase your chance of drawing a big game permit. Every time you apply for a limited-entry, CWMU or once-in-a-lifetime permit, and you don’t draw one, you receive a bonus point for that species.

Here are a few helpful facts about bonus points:

Bonus Points relate to limited-entry and once-in-a-lifetime hunts.

You earn a bonus point when your permit application is unsuccessful in the drawing.

You can also choose to apply for a bonus point only. You may not, however, apply for both a bonus point and a limited-entry permit in the same drawing, for the same species. Likewise, you may not apply for both a bonus point and a once-in-a-lifetime permit in the same drawing, for the same species.

Bonus points are awarded by species. For example, a bull elk bonus point is good for any future limited-entry bull elk hunt drawing.

If you are not eligible to apply for a permit for a species, then you cannot apply for a bonus point for that species either.

You will forfeit your bonus points if you obtain a limited-entry or once-in-a-lifetime permit for that bonus point species through the drawing or after the drawing. In other words, if you have bull moose bonus points and you obtain a bull moose permit in or after the drawing, then you will forfeit your bull moose bonus points.

Preference points

Utah’s preference point system gives hunters who don’t draw a general-season buck deer, antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit a better chance at drawing one the following year. Each time you apply for one of these permits and don’t draw one, you’ll receive a preference point.

Here are a few helpful facts about preference points:

You will earn a preference point when your general-season buck deer, antlerless deer, antlerless elk or doe pronghorn permit application is unsuccessful in the drawing, or by choosing to apply for a preference point only.

For general-season buck deer permits, you will earn a preference point if your drawing application is unsuccessful or if you don't obtain a permit for your first choice.

You can also choose to apply for a preference point only. You may not, however, apply for both a preference point and a permit at the same time.

A general-season deer preference point is good for any general-season deer hunt choice.

If you draw a permit, you will typically forfeit your preference points for that species. However, you will not forfeit your general-season deer preference points unless you draw your first choice.

If you are not eligible to apply for a permit for a species, then you cannot apply for a preference point for that species either.

Preference points are not transferable.

If members of a group application have preference points, their preference points are averaged and rounded down to the nearest whole number. (Learn more about group applications.)